obstetrician and an amateur astronomer interested in small Solar System bodies. He observes comets and unusual minor planets at the Gunma Astronomical Observatory and at the Rent-a-Scope observatories. || |-id=700 | 49700 Mather || || John C. Mather (born 1946), an American cosmologist and senior project scientist for the James Webb Space Telescope. He led the team that constructed the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE). For his role in mapping microwave radiation and understanding the early Universe he received the 2006 Nobel prize in physics. || |} 49701–49800 |-id=702 | 49702 Koikeda || || Chuzo Koikeda (born 1928), a Japanese amateur astronomer, was president of "Kanazawa hoshinokai", an astronomy club in Kanazawa, from 1962 to 2002. His wife Yoko Koikeda (born 1932), also an amateur astronomer, is a serious observer of the Sun, solar eclipses and aurorae. || |-id=777 | 49777 Cappi || 1999 XS || Margaret Capitola Sonntag Comba (born 1940), second wife of American amateur astronomer Paul G. Comba, who discovered this minor planet. She is a psychologist and art therapist by profession and a faculty member at Prescott College. || |} 49801–49900 |-bgcolor=#f2f2f2 | colspan=4 align=center | |} 49901–50000 |-id=987 | 49987 Bonata || || Diego Bonata (born 1968), an Italian aerospace engineer who has promoted laws for the control of light pollution and energy saving through the Cielobuio Association, of which he is president. At the Carl Sagan Observatory in Brignano Gera d´Adda he has developed new environmentally compatible technologies for lighting engineering. || |-id=000 | 50000 Quaoar || || Quaoar, a creation deity in Tongva mythology. The Tongva are the indigenous people of the Los Angeles basin. Quaoar has no form or gender and dances and sings Weywot, Sky Father, into existence. Together, they create Chehooit, Earth Mother, and the trio bring Tamit, Grandfather Sun, to life. || |} References 049001-050000